Data czar says he will step up inspections

The European data protection supervisor (EDPS) has warned that he will step up inspections and monitoring to make sure EU institutions abide by EU data protection rules.

Peter Hustinx, the European data protection supervisor, said in his office’s annual report for 2010 released yesterday (15 June) that more on-the-spot inspections would be carried out this year on cases it receives where it has grounds to believe EU institutions are failing to comply.

His report added that the EDPS would also give special attention to how member states and the European Commission are drafting and implementing new legislation on border security checks, such as the proposed entry-exit system and the registered traveller programme, as well as an EU-wide system to collect data on airline passengers.

The report said that the EDPS had received 94 complaints last year, 25 of which were deemed to be admissible. From those 25, there were found to be 11 breaches of EU data protection and privacy rules. The cases investigated concerned the violation of personal data, the excessive collection of data and the illegal use of data.

The EDPS said that 20 of the admissible complaints were directed against the European Commission, including OLAF, the EU’s anti-fraud office, and the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO).